Hague warns Russia on Ukraine polls

Foreign Secretary William Hague has warned Russia it must allow planned elections in Ukraine to go ahead unimpeded if it wants to avoid damaging EU economic sanctions.

Following talks with EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Mr Hague dismissed weekend referendum votes staged by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, saying they had no credibility or international acceptance.

"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk," he said.

He said the ministers had widened existing EU travel bans and asset freezes to a further 13 individuals as well as two firms based in Crimea, which was effectively annexed by Moscow.

EU governments will now wait to see if Russia respects the Ukrainian presidential election - set by the government in Kiev for May 25 - before deciding whether to move to more far-reaching economic sanctions.

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"It is the attitude and behaviour of all parties, including Russia, towards the holding of the elections on May 25 that will be a major determinant of whether such sanctions are necessary," Mr Hague said.

France's European affairs minister, Harlem Desir, said additional EU sanctions could be imposed if "actions and provocations" hamper the Ukraine presidential election campaign.

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Comments (6)

"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk." On the contrary, the people of those areas have voted by a majority of about 90% to maintain ties with Russia. Their opinion has far greater credibility than that of an illegal Kiev government of fascists and certainly greater still than that of an idiot like Hague. Where does this fool get the idea that his opinions are of any consequence? He's nothing but an embarrassment to the UK.

"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk."
On the contrary, the people of those areas have voted by a majority of about 90% to maintain ties with Russia. Their opinion has far greater credibility than that of an illegal Kiev government of fascists and certainly greater still than that of an idiot like Hague. Where does this fool get the idea that his opinions are of any consequence? He's nothing but an embarrassment to the UK.mixxer

"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk." On the contrary, the people of those areas have voted by a majority of about 90% to maintain ties with Russia. Their opinion has far greater credibility than that of an illegal Kiev government of fascists and certainly greater still than that of an idiot like Hague. Where does this fool get the idea that his opinions are of any consequence? He's nothing but an embarrassment to the UK.

Score: 3

Katie Re-Registered says...6:38pm Mon 12 May 14

If the people of Donetsk and Luhansk have voted in a democratic referendum to become part of Russia then however much one may dislike that as true democrats we have to accept it. I mean, it's kind of hypocritical for the Brits to insist that the Falkland Islands remains British because the majority of the people who live there want to be, but then cry foul when the population of Donetsk and Luhansk want to be part of Russia. Having said that though, had I lived in those regions I would have been in the apparent minority of people who voted against joining Russia. I really fear for the safety of the LGBTQ populations of the countries that Putin's homophobic, transphobic and sexist regime is annexing.

If the people of Donetsk and Luhansk have voted in a democratic referendum to become part of Russia then however much one may dislike that as true democrats we have to accept it. I mean, it's kind of hypocritical for the Brits to insist that the Falkland Islands remains British because the majority of the people who live there want to be, but then cry foul when the population of Donetsk and Luhansk want to be part of Russia.
Having said that though, had I lived in those regions I would have been in the apparent minority of people who voted against joining Russia. I really fear for the safety of the LGBTQ populations of the countries that Putin's homophobic, transphobic and sexist regime is annexing.Katie Re-Registered

If the people of Donetsk and Luhansk have voted in a democratic referendum to become part of Russia then however much one may dislike that as true democrats we have to accept it. I mean, it's kind of hypocritical for the Brits to insist that the Falkland Islands remains British because the majority of the people who live there want to be, but then cry foul when the population of Donetsk and Luhansk want to be part of Russia. Having said that though, had I lived in those regions I would have been in the apparent minority of people who voted against joining Russia. I really fear for the safety of the LGBTQ populations of the countries that Putin's homophobic, transphobic and sexist regime is annexing.

Score: 1

denislonsdale says...12:08am Tue 13 May 14

Our annoying little windbag of a Foreign Secretary is going the right way to get us into another war.

Our annoying little windbag of a Foreign Secretary is going the right way to get us into another war.denislonsdale

Our annoying little windbag of a Foreign Secretary is going the right way to get us into another war.

Score: 1

jimmysmith says...12:24am Tue 13 May 14

whos this cretin to warn any one ..hes been arming jihadist terrorists in syria and now hes posturing up the biggest power in the world the idiot .sooner hes gone the better

whos this cretin to warn any one ..hes been arming jihadist terrorists in syria and now hes posturing up the biggest power in the world the idiot .sooner hes gone the betterjimmysmith

whos this cretin to warn any one ..hes been arming jihadist terrorists in syria and now hes posturing up the biggest power in the world the idiot .sooner hes gone the better

Score: 1

varteg1 says...6:42pm Tue 13 May 14

mixxer wrote…

"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk." On the contrary, the people of those areas have voted by a majority of about 90% to maintain ties with Russia. Their opinion has far greater credibility than that of an illegal Kiev government of fascists and certainly greater still than that of an idiot like Hague. Where does this fool get the idea that his opinions are of any consequence? He's nothing but an embarrassment to the UK.

Personally I couldn't give a fig about the feelings of the UK....I take it to heart, he's an embarrassment to ME. Half the UK voted him in, so the feelings are unimportant, to anyone but those, like the four who have posted messages below this one.

[quote][p][bold]mixxer[/bold] wrote:
"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk."
On the contrary, the people of those areas have voted by a majority of about 90% to maintain ties with Russia. Their opinion has far greater credibility than that of an illegal Kiev government of fascists and certainly greater still than that of an idiot like Hague. Where does this fool get the idea that his opinions are of any consequence? He's nothing but an embarrassment to the UK.[/p][/quote]Personally I couldn't give a fig about the feelings of the UK....I take it to heart, he's an embarrassment to ME.
Half the UK voted him in, so the feelings are unimportant, to anyone but those, like the four who have posted messages below this one.varteg1

mixxer wrote…

"I think that the votes in the Eurovision Song Contest are more credible and carry greater weight than the circumstances of yesterday in Donetsk and in Luhansk." On the contrary, the people of those areas have voted by a majority of about 90% to maintain ties with Russia. Their opinion has far greater credibility than that of an illegal Kiev government of fascists and certainly greater still than that of an idiot like Hague. Where does this fool get the idea that his opinions are of any consequence? He's nothing but an embarrassment to the UK.

Personally I couldn't give a fig about the feelings of the UK....I take it to heart, he's an embarrassment to ME. Half the UK voted him in, so the feelings are unimportant, to anyone but those, like the four who have posted messages below this one.

Score: 0

miakka says...8:01pm Wed 14 May 14

The difference is that people died for this referendum to take place. Wives left without husband; children, without fathers. People were burnt to death for this referendum to take place. Would Hague wholeheartedly agree for his father or brother to be burnt alive for Eurovision? Here is the truth of what happened in Odessa to people who disagreed with the current self imposed unconstitutional government: http://ersieesist.li vejournal.com/813.ht ml﻿

The difference is that people died for this referendum to take place. Wives left without husband; children, without fathers. People were burnt to death for this referendum to take place. Would Hague wholeheartedly agree for his father or brother to be burnt alive for Eurovision? Here is the truth of what happened in Odessa to people who disagreed with the current self imposed unconstitutional government: http://ersieesist.li
vejournal.com/813.ht
ml﻿miakka

The difference is that people died for this referendum to take place. Wives left without husband; children, without fathers. People were burnt to death for this referendum to take place. Would Hague wholeheartedly agree for his father or brother to be burnt alive for Eurovision? Here is the truth of what happened in Odessa to people who disagreed with the current self imposed unconstitutional government: http://ersieesist.li vejournal.com/813.ht ml﻿

Score: 0

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